Bioreactors and methods of their use in automatic cell processing systems

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, devices, and methods for automated cell processing within a cell processing system. In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a cartridge comprising a bioreactor module comprising a bioreactor, a first thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, and a second thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, and a fluidic manifold coupling the first and second thermal compartments to the bioreactor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for automated cell processing comprising:
 a bioreactor module comprising a bioreactor, a first thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, and a second thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, wherein the first thermal compartment and the second thermal compartment interlock with one another; and   a fluidic manifold coupling the first and second thermal compartments to the bioreactor.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermal compartment and the second thermal compartment are configured to hold volumes of different amounts. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermal compartment is configured to hold a volume of about 600 mL and the second thermal compartment is configured to hold a volume of about 100 mL. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein bioreactor comprises one or more of an impeller, an air permeable liner, a sampling straw, and a perfusion filter. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber configured to receive one or more cell processing reagents, wherein the mixing chamber comprises an impeller. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the bioreactor, first thermal compartment, second thermal compartment, and the mixing chamber are fluidically connected. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the bioreactor comprises an impeller, and wherein the impeller of the mixing chamber and the impeller of the bioreactor are coupled together. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the bioreactor, the first thermal compartment, the second thermal compartment, and the mixing chamber has a window for optical detection. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a third thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the third thermal compartment is configured to hold a volume of about 600 mL. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the third thermal compartment has a window configured for optical detection. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a second bioreactor module. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the bioreactor modules are thermally coupled. 
     
     
         14 . A method of cell processing, comprising:
 providing cellular material to a cartridge having a bioreactor module comprising a bioreactor, a first thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, a second thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, and a mixing chamber;   transferring the cellular material to the bioreactor from either the first thermal compartment or the second thermal compartment; and   culturing cells in the bioreactor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cells are cultured for about 12 hours to about 15 days. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bioreactor is configured to perform one or more of a static process, a stirring process, and a perfusion process. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising measuring one or more of a pH value and a dissolved oxygen value of the cellular material in the bioreactor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sampling the cellular material using a sampling straw of the bioreactor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising measuring one or more of a lactate value and a glucose value of the sample of the cellular material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising performing one or more of transduction and transfection in the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising transferring the cellular material to the mixing chamber from either of the first thermal compartment and the second thermal compartment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a second bioreactor module. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising performing independent cell processing steps in each of the bioreactor modules. 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge for automated cell processing comprising:
 a bioreactor module comprising a bioreactor, a first thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, and a second thermal compartment positioned adjacent the bioreactor, wherein the first thermal compartment and the second thermal compartment are engaged and share a sidewall; and   a fluidic manifold coupling the first and second thermal compartments to the bioreactor.   
     
     
         25 . The cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second thermal compartments comprise complementary shapes that correspond to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second thermal compartments are thermally coupled to maintain thermal equilibrium therebetween. 
     
     
         27 . The cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second thermal compartments are fluidically connected via the fluidic manifold.